Magic prepare for fired-up Vixens
Press Release March 20, 2014
Kia Magic’s perfect start to the season is set to be tested by a wounded Vixens in ANZ Championship netball action in Melbourne on Sunday.
Having ticked all the boxes against three New Zealand teams, Magic head across the Tasman for the first time this campaign for the litmus test which will help define their credentials.
Making the Waikato/Bay of Plenty team’s job all the more challenging will be Vixens’ last minute one-goal loss to the Firebirds in their latest outing, a galling blow from a match they had mostly dominated.
``I’m really looking forward to see how we do measure up against an Australian team in Australia,’’ Magic coach Julie Fitzgerald said..
``I’m well aware of the fact that Vixens will be desparate to not lose two at home. I can’t remember the last time the Vixens have lost consecutive games on their home court, so they’ll be a very, very hungry team.’’
Magic have the best record of the New Zealand teams in Australia but overall the strike rate from all Kiwi teams has been poor, a situation Fitzgerald puts down to attitude.
``I’m beginning to wonder if some of it is just the mental side, that they (New Zealand) teams go in with a little bit of a defeatist attitude to it all,’’ she said.
``I think the competition has now reached the stage where it’s another game on another court and it shouldn’t have the impact in Australia that it seems to have.
``Usually for us, it’s a three-hour flight from Auckland and not like we’re travelling to the other side of the world.’’
Fitzgerald has been pleased with the mental fortitude and application shown by Magic for the three matches she has been in charge.
``Being able to maintain intensity is a mental thing and I think we’ve done a pretty good job of that and certainly the come from behind win (against Steel) shows that they are mentally tough,’’ she said.
``It’s always an area that you hope’s going to improve throughout the season but I think there have been times when it’s been pretty good.’’
The Magic mentor is looking to tweak but not radically change the game plan for their first Australian outing. Of their three games to date, Magic have won all but one of the 12 quarters they have played but Fitzgerald feels there’s still room for improvement on the consistency side as well as being able to adjust more seamlessly when opponents change their tactics.
``If we can execute things well, I think we’ll certainly be in there with a good chance,’’ she said.
Fitzgerald can see few areas of weakness to exploit in the Vixens line-up, describing them as well-disciplined, well drilled and playing great netball.
``Coming into this competition once they lost Elissa Macleod everyone thought their midcourt would be weak but they’ve well and truly stood up,’’ she said. ``Any attacking line that’s got (international shooter) Cath Cox on the bench is obviously very, very strong and in good form.
``And I’ve always had enormous respect for Bianca (Chatfield) and Geva (Mentor), they’re two of the best defenders in the world so I don’t think they’ve got too many weak spots at all.’’
Jane Hunt
Kia Magic media liaison
Ph: 021-107-0287
